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Tag: Leopard

  • Leopard attacks cyclist and knocks him off bike in India

    The terrifying moment a cyclist was knocked off his bike by a leopard in India has been caught on camera.

    Footage shows the man cycling slowly along a road in Kaziranga National Park when he is attacked by the animal that emerges from the trees.

    The leopard pounces on the cyclist and drags him off his bike, before disappearing back into the greenery.

    Park rangers have now urged commuters not to stop their vehicles in the area for safety reasons, warning them that the road is in a wild area where animals often cross.

    A video circulating on social media shows a leopard pouncing on a cyclist. According to news agency ANI, the incident took place at Kaziranga National Park in Assam and the video was captured by CCTV installed in the area. The video has been shared by several users, including Indian Forest Service (IFS) officials. As the minute-long clip begins, a man wearing an orange full sleeves sweater is seen riding a bicycle along a highway passing through a forest. Suddenly, a leopard leaps put from the bushes and charges at the man.

    The man loses balance and falls but the leopard sprints back to the forest. The cyclist immediately turns back.

    The big cat’s jaws struck the man at his waist and he is seen checking it while cycling away from the spot. Two other cyclists are also seen waiting for the man and offer him help. The incident doesn’t impact the traffic on the road and cars and other vehicles are seen passing by normally.

    The video has amassed more than 2.5 lakh views and close to 8,000 likes. It also shocked internet users and started a discussion.

    “In open Forests beware of Wild Animals and make Sounds n pass. Then they won’t come near. Any way God bless him and all,” said one user.

    “The red car saved the day for the cyclist. The leopard was taken aback by the presence of that car,” said another.

    Others users called the cyclist “extremely lucky”.

    ANI report said that the incident took place at Haldibari Animal Corridor on January 19, 2022, adding that the cyclist did not suffer any major injury in the attack.

  • Leopard Dives into Muddy Water to Catch Fish

    Candice Pappin, a nature enthusiast, was lucky enough to watch this leopard grow up in Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, making every sighting she gets extra special. But this one will never be forgotten.

    Over a few days in July, Candice noticed the leopard returning to this specific waterhole. He kept coming to check the water level, and when it was dry enough, we found out why…

    “I knew he was waiting for all the fish to be huddled under the log, so I kept coming to check on him…”

    Some African species of catfish have adapted to survive with almost no water for certain periods. They enter a dormant state called aestivation and use hardly any energy. In extreme cases, they can survive by burrowing into the mud.
    That said, they haven’t adapted any abilities to deal with all the new predators they face when the water levels drop. And the leopard knew this!

    One morning, Candice went to check if the leopard was still at the waterhole. He was, and Candice spent three hours with him, but without much activity. Just as she was about to leave, a couple of warthogs came for a drink, and the excitement began!

    “He immediately went into a stalking position, but the warthogs caught his scent and ran off as he came sprinting out of hiding.” The leopard missed out on the warthogs, but the chaos from their escape caused the fish to squabble, which definitely caught the leopard’s attention.

    “Like a switch, it triggered something inside him. He ran straight onto the log and decided it was now or never! Looking at the fish, he reached into the muddy water, and with a swift movement, grabbed one!”

    “I couldn’t believe what I had just witnessed. The adrenaline was pumping; those three hours had paid off, and what a show it was! He went into a catching frenzy…’’

    “At one point, he decided to walk straight into the muddy water and submerge his head, which was very entertaining! He eventually ended up covered in black mud from head to toe.”

    “By the time he was done, he had caught 11 fish! Some, he carried into our hide or placed under a bush, others, he left lying on the dried mud, and a few were stolen by a Saddle-billed Stork and a Fish Eagle.”

  • Cyclist attacked by wild leopard

    Terrifying Encounter: Cyclist Fights Off Wild Leopard in Daring Roadside Attack

    Incident near the Satpura Tiger Reserve highlights the growing challenges of human-wildlife coexistence.

    BHOPAL, India – An early morning bicycle ride turned into a desperate fight for survival for one amateur cyclist, who found himself in a terrifying face-off with a wild leopard on a remote stretch of road bordering the Satpura Tiger Reserve.

    Anil Sharma, a 34-year-old software engineer from a nearby town, was on his customary weekend ride, enjoying the serene quiet of the forest-lined road, when his peaceful outing was violently interrupted.

    “It was just after sunrise, the air was cool, and there was no one else on the road,” Sharma said from his hospital bed, where he is being treated for deep lacerations and shock. “I heard a rustle in the dense foliage to my left, but I assumed it was a monkey or a deer. Before I could even process it, there was a flash of spotted fury.”

    The leopard, a full-grown adult, reportedly burst from the undergrowth and launched itself at Sharma, knocking him and his bicycle to the asphalt in a tangled heap. The ambush was swift, powerful, and characteristic of the apex predator’s hunting style.

    “My first thought was sheer, primal terror,” Sharma recounted. “Its weight was immense. I could feel its claws digging into my arm and leg, and its face was inches from mine. I honestly thought I was going to die.”

    In a moment of adrenaline-fueled instinct, Sharma managed to shove his bicycle between himself and the agitated feline. The metal frame and spinning wheels acted as a momentary, unconventional shield, confusing the leopard and preventing it from delivering a fatal bite.

    “The bike saved my life,” he stated, his voice still trembling. “I kept pushing it against the animal, shouting as loud as I could. It was a chaotic, terrifying dance of man, machine, and beast.”

    The harrowing ordeal lasted for what Sharma described as “an eternity, but probably only a minute or two.” His salvation came in the form of a forest department patrol jeep that happened to be on its routine morning rounds. The sound of the approaching vehicle and the shouts from the rangers were enough to startle the leopard, which released its grip and melted back into the dense forest as quickly as it had appeared.

    Forest officials immediately administered first aid before rushing Sharma to the nearest district hospital.

    Ranger Deepak Verma, who was in the patrol vehicle, spoke to local media. “This is a rare and unfortunate incident. It’s a stark reminder that these are wild, unpredictable animals and this is their territory. The cyclist is incredibly lucky. His presence of mind to use his bike as a barrier was crucial.”

    Wildlife experts suggest several reasons for the unprovoked attack. Dr. Priya Singh, a biologist specializing in big cats, explained, “Leopards are ambush predators. The fast, silent movement of a cyclist may have triggered its predatory instinct, mistaking it for fleeing prey. It could also have been a territorial animal, startled by the sudden appearance of Mr. Sharma at close quarters, or a mother protecting cubs hidden nearby.”

    Forest officials have temporarily closed the road to cyclists and pedestrians and have increased patrols in the area to monitor the leopard’s movement and ensure the safety of local villagers and commuters.

    While Anil Sharma recovers from his physical wounds, the psychological scars will likely take longer to heal. His story serves as a powerful and visceral reminder of the fragile line that separates human environments from the untamed wild, and the respect and caution required when venturing into the domain of nature’s most formidable creatures.

     

  • How FAST and STRONG is a LEOPARD

    How Fast Are Leopards? Top Speeds and How It Compares Other Big Cats

    Cats of all sizes are known for their stealth, agility, and speed. We all know cheetahs take the cake when it comes to their record-breaking speed. But what about leopards? They are quick climbers, sneaky hunters, and pretty fast on land, but just how fast?

    Leopards can run up to speeds of 36 miles per hour. Below, we delve into how that speed compares to their fellow felines and what contributes to a cat’s incredible speed and agility.

    How Fast Are Leopards Compared to Other Big Cats?

    Leopards are actually one of the slowest of the big cat species. These are also the smallest of the big cats, with females ranging from 46-132 pounds and males weighing between 80-165 pounds. Both are only just over two feet tall at shoulder height. Their small build might contribute to their slow speeds in comparison to other big cats, but leopards shine in their climbing abilities.

    Despite their similarities in size, cheetahs are twice as fast as leopards. Cheetahs are the fastest land mammals and can run in bursts up to 80 miles per hour. This excess in speed could be due to their leg muscles and structure. Leopards are more accustomed to tree climbing and have shorter, thicker legs to efficiently do this. Cheetahs hunt in wide-open areas and don’t have as many reasons to climb, so their legs are slenderer and longer, therefore they can cover much more ground at a quicker pace than their similar-looking small cat counterparts. The thick legs of a leopard also allow them to drag their kills into trees. Cheetahs are unfortunately not strong enough to do this and instead rely on hiding and eating their kills within bushes or tall grass.

    When it comes to swiftness, other big cats are within the range of leopards and cheetahs. Tigers can run between 30-40 miles per hour, and lions 50 miles per hour. Snow leopards are not much faster than their “regular” leopard relatives, maxing out at around 40 miles per hour.

    How Fast is a Leopard Compared to a Human?

    The fastest human runner, Usain Bolt, maxes out at 27.5 miles per hour. While that’s extremely impressive for a human, those speeds are not impressive to any member of the Felidae family, even leopards. However, humans have much more endurance when it comes to running, though not at the speeds Usain Bolt reaches. When comparing how long a human can run versus how long a cat can run, the human wins. Some factors that give humans an advantage in endurance include bipedalism, tons of sweat glands, and the ability to conserve energy while running. This could stem from an evolutionary need to continuously pursue prey by essentially outrunning it. Meanwhile, the cat only needs a burst of speed to caught prey.

    How Fast is a Domestic House Cat?

    Perhaps the most applicable question for cat lovers is how fast a domestic house cat can run. Surprisingly, they can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, which is just six miles per hour slower than a leopard. Domestic house cats are just smaller versions of their wild counterparts!

    Housecats and large, wild cats share quite a few similarities. In fact, some “big cats” can purr. The larynx causes the hyoid bone to vibrate in housecats and smaller “big cats” like cougars and bobcats. However, they can’t roar. That is an honor saved for the true “big cats” like lions and tigers. Despite their size difference compared to a regular house cat, cougars, lynx, and bobcats are not considered “big cats”. Their vocalizations, including an inability to roar, are a distinguishing characteristic between so-called “big” and “small” cats.

    Why Are Cats So Fast?

    Cats of all sizes can reach impressive speeds. These are all attributes of their anatomy. Much like how the strength of an animal’s bite is due to their jaw and skull anatomy, a cat’s speed is determined by their musculature and skeletal composition. However, you can boil down their speed and agility to a very important structure: the spine.

     

  • Lioness Catches Leopard While Male Tries His Luck With Her

    This unbelievable wildlife sighting happened this week in MalaMala Game Reserve. Ranger Thabs was there to see it firsthand and shared his footage with Latest Sightings.

    Due to the competition for resources, leopards, and lions have an ancient rivalry that stems back centuries. The two species of big cats have been known to target one another’s vulnerable babies whenever given the chance.

    Even larger-sized leopards tend to be significantly smaller than the average-sized lioness. This is why we never see leopards challenging adult lions; they’re outsized and cannot match the lion’s physical strength. Leopards are, however, very aware of their surroundings, and in most cases, lions stand little chance of actually catching one.

    This time, for one unlucky leopard, known as the Plaque Rock Female, the script changed when she found herself surrounded by a pride of unforgiving lions. The leopard was left with only one option, and that was to fight back, which she did to the best of her abilities, but this was no more than a mismatch.

    Three of the Ntsevu Pride lionesses attacked from whichever angle they could find, and it was all over pretty much before it began. One of them latched onto the leopard’s neck in the infamous ‘death grip.’ That’s when the other lions backed up and let their sister finish the job. A sad ending for the leopard indeed.

    Throughout the incident, the dominant male lion of the pride surprisingly didn’t seem to be so interested in the leopard. Besides sniffing the dying big cat a few times, the leader of the pride had other things in mind.

    Among the chaos going on around him, the male lion amazingly seemed to have mistaken just exactly what the lioness’s intentions were, while she was finishing off the job with the leopard. Unexpectedly, for everyone watching, the male lion swung around and climbed on top of the lioness, and then started to show some interesting behavior.

    The leopard was most likely gone at this point, but even so, the lioness refused to let go of her grip. She wasn’t taking any chances and wanted to make certain that her job was done right.
    Moments after this strange scene played out, the lions got up and calmly walked off as if nothing had happened, leaving the leopard’s body behind for the scavengers.

  • Leopard Drops Lion a Bone after it Struggles to Reach the Food

    She filmed it on the S25 while out on safari with her guests.

    Hayley recalls that she was en route to view a lion sighting when she paused to view a leopard. The leopard had a female impala catch which it hoisted into a tall tree.

    After spending a short amount of time, a young male arrived at the location. As soon as it became evident, the lion had picked up a scent, but was it smelling a meal or a bitter rival predator?

    Whichever it was, the lion couldn’t locate the source at first, so it spent a good while sniffing around…
    While trying to locate the source of the tantalising aroma, the lion came within a few metres of the safari vehicles.

    Soon enough, the lion pinpointed what was causing the smell! The only problem was it was several metres up a tree. And while lions can climb… big males are not very good at it!

    Rearing up on its hind legs, he dugs his front claws into the base of the bark and pulled…… and pulled — with all of his strength, without really getting anywhere. Eventually, exhausted by trying to lift its own body weight, the lion gave up.

    Somewhat defeated, the lion could only look up at the carcass and the somewhat smug leopard above.

    Embarrassed by its failed attempt at tree-climbing, the lion sought to restore its dignity in other ways. It began sniffing around the base of the tree with great intent. However, when it found a single, skinny impala leg, its eventual reward did little to achieve its goal.

    Meanwhile, safely ensconced in the branches above, the leopard calmly maneuvered into a more comfortable position. Seemingly unflappable, she continued to feed.

    Mindful of the lion pacing below, the leopard’s occasional snarl surely rubbed salt in its wounded pride.
    That is, when she wasn’t ‘showing off’ for the tourists below.

    As for the lion on the ground, it continued to weigh its options. Sniffing some more, checking how much meat was left on the carcass, and considering different ways to get up the tree.

  • Leopard Fails Successfully

    Perfect for finding high-action sightings

    It didn’t take long to spot something special! It was a young leopard, and it was lying next to a very recent catch. At that point, it was tricky to see just how impressive that catch was, but the leopard was visibly still exhausted from the hunt.

    It was also clear that the leopard had fed a little, and it was only a matter of a few moments before it would want to secure its meal in the safety of a tree.

    After a few more pants, that’s exactly what happened. The leopard got up and started dragging the impala toward the nearest tree. That’s when Vincent could see just how big of a deal this was.

    Compared to the leopard, the impala was huge! Just thinking about how the leopard managed to take the impala down was incredible, and watching it attempt to lift it into the tree was somehow even more impressive.

    From Vincent’s perspective, the impala looked almost double the leopard’s size, and still, the leopard was inching its way into a tree with it. At no point did it make it very high up, but the strength it must have taken just to get to that point was downright amazing!

    Vincent realized just how persistent the young leopard was, too. So determined to secure its catch, the leopard would try again right after each fall. It must have taken everything, but still, it kept going…

    On its third attempt, the leopard dug deep, and somehow managed to crawl up as high as it had ever been! But, just as there was hope of reaching the first set of branches, the momentum shifted and the leopard had to let go of the impala!

    It was heartbreak all over again for the leopard. However, this time it went a little differently! The impala didn’t come crashing to the ground as expected. No, instead, it hooked onto a stump poking out from the bottom of the tree, in the most perfect way!

    Yes, it technically was a failure, but it was almost like a wildlife trickshot. Then, on top of that, the leopard then landed right next to the hooked impala, in the exact position for the two lock eyes!
    Although the leopard never managed to hoist the impala, this doesn’t end sadly for the young predator! By a small miracle, hyenas never came round, and the leopard had the impala all to itself, feeding comfortably on the ground for the next two days.

  • Leopard Mom Sacrifices Herself To Protect Her Cubs

    Godliving knew of a leopard denning in the area and thought it would be a great time to try and spot her.

    Much before long, that’s exactly what happened! The leopard mom was in sight, and as a huge bonus, there was visibility on her two babies as well!

    This was a precious moment, but it was quickly overshadowed for everyone, by a feeling that something was off. The leopard was outside of her den, and there was a sense of paranoia; overall, she seemed very uncomfortable.

    Carol explains; “The leopard was outside her den when my husband spotted a lioness crouched just a few meters away, watching intently in the same general direction. We initially thought two separate events were unfolding — the leopard and her cubs, and the lioness watching the wildebeest in the distance. But as she crept forward, we realized she was actually focused on the leopards!”
    The lion crept up to striking distance, and it was all or nothing for the leopard. Being considerably smaller, the leopard was at a massive disadvantage, but with everything to lose and the instincts of a mother, she stood her ground with amazing courage!

    Without a second thought, the lion leaped in to engage the leopard! The rest of the lion pride was just around the corner from the scene, but the lioness was feeling so confident, that she didn’t bother with waiting for backup! A choice that she would with no doubt, end up regretting!

    The leopard jumped to meet the lioness back, and the pair locked into a grapple as they hit the ground. Once again, the lion was at an upper hand, as she landed on top, but to describe the little leopard as being ferocious, would be subtle!
    The leopard kicked, bit, and tore at the underside of the lion with serious intent. It was almost overbearing, and it took the lioness by surprise! With limited options, the lion decided to bite at one of the leopard’s back feet, but it wasn’t enough!
    With so much happening in the footage, it was tricky to see exactly how she did it, but the leopard managed to latch onto the lion’s leg and target a soft spot. The lion’s reaction made it clear how much it hurt, as she jumped away from the leopard and held out her paw like an injured puppy!

    This was the moment the leopard realized she might have just saved her babies’ lives! The last thing on the lion’s mind now would be the den site, and the chaos of the situation would likely distract the rest of the pride as well.

    So, with the lion backed off, and her cubs given enough time to hide, the leopard took the opportunity to escape to a nearby tree. The rest of the lions arrived shortly after, and together they tried climbing up to the leopard, but just couldn’t make it to her.

    Luck finally came for the leopard when one of the lions caught a nearby wildebeest from the herd seen earlier. With food now on the table, the lions quickly grew bored of the leopard, and she was able to get to her babies, who were completely unharmed!
    Situations like this end with a very sad story most of the time, but this was just not that day. It took more than a small miracle, but the leopard never gave up, and she did what it took to save her babies!

  • Blind Leopard with Balls of Steel Tries Taking from 10+ Monster Crocs

    Stefan Cruysberghs, was on an early-morning safari in South Luangwa

    There were so many crocs that it was hard to see what they were eating, but they spent some time and managed to identify the prey as being a puku antelope. Seeing that this was playing out on land, it was assumed that another predator had caught and abandoned the puku.

    The more time they spent at the sighting, the more crocodiles appeared from the river. Watching just how many crocs were attracted to the smell was fascinating. It was almost an endless supply!

    A Nile crocodile can eat over 50% of its body weight in a single meal. On average, your typical puku weighs a lot less than that. Meaning that there really wasn’t enough food to go around here, and all the crocodiles were likely very grumpy because of it!

    There was so much going on here that it was almost too much to process when a leopard suddenly came strolling in from the bushes. Who would have thought about another predator being around?

    It was a huge surprise for everyone at first, but then it was assumed that the leopard had originally caught the puku and was forced to abandon it. Now, it returned only to find that it had been claimed by a bask of crocodiles.

    That would normally be the end of the story. After all, when crocodiles steal your meal, there really isn’t anything that can be done about that. However, this leopard wouldn’t have it! If it was going to lose its food, it wasn’t losing everything.

    The leopard zigged and zagged its way through the pile of crocodile bodies, just looking for a gap to squeeze in. It even had to dodge a couple of snaps, but that wasn’t enough to deter it.

    It did end up finding the space it was looking for, and it was now basically mouth-to-mouth with one of the bigger crocodiles! Just desperately tugging and pulling away, trying and nab a piece.

    Not being able to get a decent share, the leopard became frustrated, so, when another crocodile decided to try and get involved, the leopard slapped it on the nose!
    The leopard only managed to get two small chunks of the puku, before having to walk away. It certainly wasn’t worth all the risk it took in the end, but it was so incredible to see!

  • Squirrel Shows Leopard Who’s Boss

    Piet Van Wyk is the head ranger at MalaMala Private Game Reserve, he was on safari when he spotted the daughter of a well-known leopardess in a tree, but he didn’t spot the squirrel that would soon be annoying her!

    This leopard is quickly growing to be as loved as her mother, the Sibuye female, and everyone was excited when they found her in an Apple-Leaf Tree. They hadn’t been at the sighting long when something caught the curious cat’s attention.

    Turns out, the young leopard was sharing a tree with a squirrel all along! As soon as the leopard realized, it triggered something and the fun and games began.

    Being about 100 times smaller, it would be safe to assume that the squirrel would make a dash for it, but no! Not this squirrel, it wanted to have some fun first! It waited for the leopard at the bottom of the trunk, and as soon as the leopard came near, the squirrel shot back up the tree!

    Up and down, and around they went. It was like this squirrel had something to prove, or maybe just the heart of a lion! At one point, the leopard was so confused that it completely lost the squirrel, who was dead still, right in front of her face.

    Then, with a slight movement, the leopard found it again, and the games were back on! The squirrel had the poor leopard running from the tip of the tree all the way to the ground again, but each time, it never gave up!

    This lasted for about five minutes, and eventually, it was the squirrel that darted into the bushes. Maybe it became too tired or just had enough of messing around. The leopard was still determined and ran after it into the bushes, but never ended up catching it.